Article I
OF FAITH IN THE HOLY TRINITY^[1]

There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body, parts, or passions; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker and Preserver of all things both visible and invisible.  And in unity of this Godhead there be three Persons, of one substance, power and eternity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

THE Christian Church does not, in the first instance, attempt to convince men of the existence of God.  She is a witness rather than an uncertain inquirer.  Instead of speculating how to establish God’s existence, she teaches men, on God’s authority, what God is like.  The Articles rightly commence with certain dogmatic statements about the Godhead, in unity of substance and Trinity of Persons, because a true conception of the nature of God is the fundamental basis of true religion.

A study of the Bible suggests that we should not expect the existence of God to be demonstrated like a problem in mathematics.  ‘He that cometh unto God must begin by an act of believing (Greek, pisteusai) that He is, and that He is found a Rewarder to them that seek Him out.’^[2]  Our logical faculties must be supported by an act of faith on our part; but having made that initial act of faith in God, we find that it is reasonable to believe in Him.  Belief in a supernatural power seems to be part of man’s nature, for no tribe is known that has not some such belief.  The presence of life, in a world in which there was originally no life, proclaims the existence of a Life-giver.  Everything in existence must have an adequate cause; the existence of the Universe, showing evidence of intelligence, presupposes an intelligent First Cause.  Likewise, the evidence of a moral sense in mankind points to a moral Creator.

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